There appears to be no end in sight for the deepening crisis in the health sector. This is after nurses in other counties threatened to join their striking counterparts this week to push for the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The nurses are accusing the county administrations of failure to honor the return to work formula signed with the nurses’ union. In Mombasa County, for instance, the caregivers have issued a seven-day strike notice over the unpaid allowances.

It was one of the counties that had honored the return to work agreement, but nurses have since opted to join in the industrial action after their uniform and the nursing service allowances were withdrawn from their January salaries.

A section of leaders is now calling on the parties involved to quickly reach an amicable solution so as to avert a crisis as thousands begin to suffer the consequences of grounded health services.

“This strike should be taken more seriously than has been happening. We have observed it and it is generating a lot of tension in the country. It has left Kenyans miserable.

Nurses strike means there is no healthcare in hospitals.” Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina said Just like the nurses’ umbrella union, some leaders also hold the view that the health function should be reverted back to the national government as opposed to being left in the hands of county governors.

“If we are going to amend the constitution, then we should push to have health back in central govt. Our counties have been unable to manage it well” One lawmaker charged.